AISD Considers Putting Ads on School Buses

AISD is considering placing advertising on school buses at its board meeting tonight

KUT News

The Austin School Board tonight will consider contracting with a company to put advertisements on the side of school buses.

Cynthia Calvert owns the company Steep Creek Media. AISD is recommending the board approve a three year contract with the company.

She says 60 to 70 percent of the money raised from advertising goes back to the school district.

“How many ads do they see in a day? I mean, 1,000 at least, bombard children every day. At least these ads are generating money that will help improve education," Calvert says.

She says all of the advertising is family-friendly and approved by school districts. Steep Creek Media contracts with Eanes ISD and Pflugerville ISD, among others. Calvert says she started the company in 2009 to help generate money for school districts in the Houston area.

Austin ISD estimates the advertisements will generate more than $43,000 dollars in the first year and about $388,000 dollars within the next five years.

Prop 4 would've put $10 million toward the district's two schools for disabled children, the Rosedale School and the Clifton Career Development Center. It also would have earmarked money for Career and Technical and Fine Art programs.

The Austin school district is opening a district-wide outdoor learning center this evening next to Pleasant Hill Elementary school in South Austin. The quarter-acre center (PDF) includes 150 species of native plants, 22 habitat sites and a rainwater harvesting system.